Joint Fellowship Training Program
Mentor:
Carolyn A. Wilson, Ph.D.
Organizational Affiliation and Position:
Senior Investigator in the Laboratory of Immunology and Virology, Division of Cellular and Gene Therapy, Office of Cells, Tissue, and Gene Therapies (OCTGT), Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), FDA
Email:
carolyn.wilson@fda.hhs.gov
Telephone:
301-827-0481
Title of Research Program:
Biology of Gammaretroviruses
Research Project Summary (if applicable):
Gammaretroviruses, or those retroviruses formerly classified as type C, are retroviruses with a simple genomic and particle structure, many of which have been shown to cause tumors in certain animal models. Dr. Wilson's laboratory, in recent years, has been studying a gammaretrovirus that is present as an endogenous element in the pig genome. Porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) are heritable viruses, present in all pigs, and in all pig cells. The use of living pig cells for investigational treatment of human diseases, presents a potential risk of transmission of PERV. Therefore, Dr. Wilson's laboratory has been studying the basic biology of PERVs, as well as developing methodology that can be used to assess xenotransplantation products and recipients of xenotransplantation products. In particular, Dr. Wilson has shown that PERVs infectious for human cells can be isolated from pig blood cells, and that infectious PERV can also be isolated directly from pig plasma. She has developed methods for in vitro culture of PERV, as well as sensitive and specific methods for detection of viral RNA or DNA. She has also been investigating the merits of different animal models, in order to have a model to assess the in vivo infectivity and potential for pathogenicity of PERV.
Proposed Project for IOTF Fellow:
Investigate the potential tumorigenicity of PERV in animal models.
Regulatory Activity:
Learn the IND regulatory process as it pertains to cell and gene therapies
Reference(s):
- van der Laan LJ, Lockey C, Griffeth BC, Frasier FS, Wilson CA, Onions DE, Hering BJ, Long Z, Otto E, Torbett BE, Salomon DR. Infection by porcine endogenous retrovirus after islet xenotransplantation in SCID mice. Nature 2000 Sep 7;407(6800):90-4.
- Wilson CA, Wong S, Muller J, Davidson CE, Rose TM, Burd P. Type C retrovirus released from porcine primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells infects human cells. J Virol 1998 Apr;72(4):3082-7
